Kawauchi, Linden record shock wins
BOSTON: Japan’s Yuki Kawauchi and American Desiree Linden ended long droughts for their countries with stunning victories in a wet and windy Boston Marathon yesterday.
Kawauchi ran down defending champion Geoffrey Kirui, of Kenya, to win in 2hr 15min 58sec.
He is the first Japanese man to win the event since 1987.
Linden, winning her first marathon, ended 33 years of frustration for American women to prevail in 2hr 39min 54sec as runners, many clad in rain tops, endured heavy rain and temperatures above 40degC.
An American woman had not won the race since Lisa Larsen Weidenbach in 1985.
The 31yearold Kawauchi, known as the citizen runner because he also has a fulltime job, overtook Kirui in the closing kilometre after the Kenyan appeared to have the race in hand, leading by more than a minute at times.
But the Japanese runner, who has competed in more than 80 marathons and led in the early stages of the race, always stayed in contention before taking control around the 40km mark.
‘‘I never gave up,’’ Kawauchi, who became the first Japanese runner to win the Boston race since Toshihiko Seko, said.
‘‘I knew he was up there. I could see him. I ran my own race and I ran him down.’’
Kirui took second place in 2hr 18min 23sec American Shadrack Biwott was third in 2hr 18min 35sec.
American Olympic bronze medallist Galen Rupp, the 2017 Boston runnerup, did not finish.
Linden (34) surged past Kenyan Gladys Chesir at 35km and pulled steadily away,
‘‘I’m thrilled to be here and get it done,’’ Linden, who had finished second in 2011 and fourth last year, said.
More than 30,000 runners entered the marathon, which was run under tight security on the fifth anniversary of the 2013 bombing at the race that killed three people and injured hundreds more.
About an hour into the race Linden had lost precious seconds when she slowed and waited for New York City Marathon winner Shalane Flanagan, who had taken a toilet break, to catch up with her.
Linden said the act of kindness actually helped her.
‘‘At mile two, three, four, I didn’t feel like I was going to make it to the finish line,’’ the American said. ‘‘I told her anything I can do to help you let me know because I might drop out.
‘‘Helping her helped me, and I kind of got my legs back from there.’’
Flanagan, who grew up watching the race, placed seventh.
Sara Sellers finished second to Linden, more than 4min adrift on 2hr 44min 4sec, as American women took seven of the top 10 places.
Canada’s Krista Duchene claimed third in 2hr 44min 20sec with defending champion Edna Kiplagat, of Kenya, fading to ninth.
The showing was the worst in years for African runners who have dominated the race. Only Kirui and Kiplagat were in the top 10. — Reuters